The field of nanoscience is constantly expanding and we are always finding new ways to use materials. One such development is tracking aquatic invasive species, through use of environmental DNA (eDNA). However, when dealing with eDNA, the largest barrier is the small quantities of analyte which can easily be lost in extensive sample preparation. In this research we are exploring the inclusion of gold nanoparticles throughout a silica nanoparticle matrix for an eDNA sensor with a built-in filter. The first phase of production for this device is the synthesis of silica and gold nanoparticles of similar sizes. These particles are mixed and deposited via an evaporative deposition method. The colloidal matrix is characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to assess the pore size and uniformity of the matrix, and Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis) to determine the distribution of gold particles throughout the silica particle matrix.

Silica and gold nanoparticle matrices for eDNA detector

251st National Meeting (2016)

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